OU Soccer Draws With Utah

The first weekend is done, and the Oklahoma soccer team is undefeated.

The Sooners posted a 1-1 draw with Utah on Sunday afternoon in Norman, battling through 90 minutes of play and two overtimes in the Oklahoma heat. Oklahoma (1-0-1) posted 10 shots to Utah's (1-0-1) 12 while adding four saves and three corner kicks.

Utah struck first and quickly with the match's first goal in only the 9th minute of play. Junior Kaycee Buckley put a ten yard shot off OU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Farhner's hands to give the Utes an early 1-0 lead in the contest.

The first half became a defensive battle for the Sooners, who withstood three corners and three shots over the next 16 minutes of play. OU utilized several substitutions to battle the afternoon heat, and freshman Jordyn Webster's fresh legs would pay off for Oklahoma in the 26th minute. Webster fed an assist in to classmate Lizzie Luallin, who struck from ten yards out for her first career goal.

OU would continue to battle off several more advances from the Utes in the first half but emerged unscathed. The Sooners took a 1-1 tie with Utah into halftime, despite trailing shots 8-2.

Oklahoma gained strength and went on the aggressive in the second half, posting seven shots while holding Utah to only two attempts on goal. The Sooners had several strong looks at the goal in the second half, including a six-minute span beginning in the 74th minute that saw OU fire four shots (two on goal).

One of OU's best chances came in the 77th minute when sophomore Shiloh Price sent a pass from beside the goal to Devin Barrett. Barrett fired a shot to the right side of the goal, forcing Utah's Lindsey Luke to make a diving save.

The Sooners broke past Utah defenders more than once in both overtime periods, but were unable to convert their chances into solid shots. Fahrner made two saves, one in each OT period, to keep the Utes off the board and preserve the final 1-1 tie.

Next weekend will be one to watch for the Sooners. The team will welcome a pair of top-10 foes to Norman in No. 8 Florida and No. 2 Florida State. OU is set to open the weekend on Friday evening against the Gators at 7 p.m. before facing the Seminoles on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be carried live on Sooner Sports TV.

Baker Mayfield is in many ways the perfect college football player: Good enough to play at an elite level, but because he is not an ideal NFL prospect, he stuck around long enough to lead Oklahoma to three Big 12 championships and two playoff appearances. Mayfield is the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night and become the first senior to take home the award since Ohio State's Troy Smith in 2006.

Baker Mayfield is in many ways the perfect college football player: Good enough to play at an elite level, but because he is not an ideal NFL prospect, he stuck around long enough to lead Oklahoma to three Big 12 championships and two playoff appearances. Mayfield is the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night and become the first senior to take home the award since Ohio State's Troy Smith in 2006.